| So, it's time to plan your vacation. These are | | | | I run into quite a few places that I really wish I |
| some of my favorite words in the world. I love | | | | could have gone to when I was younger! Some |
| vacations and I usually spend a good amount of | | | | of them I still want to go to. You know the |
| time and energy in the planning of one. As a | | | | places I mean? Like Hedonism in Jamaica? Wow!, |
| matter of fact, I typically have 3 vacations in the | | | | what a great place that would have been for me |
| planning stage at all times. Mostly I start about a | | | | when I was younger! And even though I am not |
| year out, because I am spending a lot of money | | | | a young single person anymore I may still go |
| on vacation and I want it to be done my way. | | | | there. I just love a good party atmosphere. |
| Now, I am at a point in my life where I am an | | | | OK, the other phase of life coming up on me, that |
| empty nester, but this is not the only phase of | | | | I have not reached yet, is the seniors. I think |
| life I have been through. But more about that | | | | when I do reach that group that I will be even |
| later. Where I am now is whats important now. | | | | less inclined to share my vacations with children |
| When I am planning my vacations I keep in the | | | | than I am now. I hear from my mother that you |
| back of my mind how many kids will be involved. | | | | get even less tolerant as you get older. Well, I |
| Now don't get me wrong, I love kids. I raised | | | | guess it's deserved huh? One thing some seniors |
| mine and I have grandkids and when I go to the | | | | have to deal with as they age is no longer being |
| park I love to watch kids play. But when I am | | | | able to get around by themselves. I don't mean |
| planning my vacation, I also try to make sure I | | | | just wheelchair bound, but just not feeling so |
| avoid school holiday times. | | | | comfortable going to a new place, renting a car to |
| I am still enough of a kid myself that a few years | | | | get around and going for it. |
| ago while on vacation in Florida I hit the Universal | | | | The other thing with senior travel is, by that time |
| Studios Theme Parks. I had a blast! It was great | | | | of life your finances are usually in the best shape |
| fun going on the rides, and I took lots of pictures | | | | of your life, and you can finally afford that trip to |
| like any good tourist. And there were kids there | | | | Rome you have always dreamed of. But going to |
| to be sure, but we went in November and we | | | | a foreign country can be a bit intimidating at any |
| went midweek, so there were not that many. | | | | age, but especially as a senior. I mean, you know |
| See what I mean about planning? | | | | way before you hit this age that you could no |
| So many people feel that summertime or the | | | | longer outrun a mugger or run down the thief |
| Christmas season are the only time to travel. For | | | | that stole your wallet/purse. Not to mention the |
| my money, those are the two times I want to | | | | fact that you can't really hear the policeman that |
| avoid the most. Now I can understand this for | | | | is speaking to you in your own language, let alone |
| families with children still at home with the | | | | one you don't know. |
| traditional school year. But if you are not in this | | | | So now you know that a discussion about adult |
| situation, why not go for some other time | | | | travels doesn't have to be held in a closet. It is ok |
| frames. If you are looking for vacations without | | | | to let out your inner adult and shun the kiddie |
| so many kids around, I guarantee you will not be | | | | pools. There is not a thing wrong with wanting to |
| disappointed. After all, bad weather doesn't | | | | find a chair by the pool, have the waiter bring you |
| immediately begin on September 1. | | | | a mai tai, and not have to hear a single peep out |
| Now about those other phases of life. I used to | | | | of a child's mouth. And if you want to get wild |
| be a young person. I didn't travel much when I | | | | and crazy and party till you drop, well, that's ok |
| was younger because I simply couldn't afford it. | | | | too. |
| But when I am researching vacations these days, | | | | |